Historic Houses
Gardner-Pingree House
128 Essex Street
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This elegantly proportioned Federal-style house is one of Salem architect Samuel McIntire’s finest
The grand Gardner-Pingree House (1804) was built for John Gardner, a wealthy Salem merchant and nephew of Elias Hasket “King” Derby, mentioned in the preface to Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter.
This elegantly proportioned Federal-style house is one of Salem architect Samuel McIntire’s finest and best-preserved designs and is now a National Historic Landmark. With success at sea as well as a profitable wholesale business on the waterfront, Gardner became highly motivated to build a home to showcase his new wealth. He hired well-known architect and woodworker Samuel McIntire to design and build this massive, elegantly proportioned Federal-style townhouse in the heart of downtown Salem in an up-and coming neighborhood adjacent to Salem Common.
Photo by Kathy Tarantola/PEM.
In the early 19th century, houses like this were among the most opulent homes in the country. A mansion like this was particularly active during the winter ball season. Typically an evening gathering in the double parlors would involve music, dining and dancing until sunrise.
Photo by Bob Packert/PEM.
A carriage house was added in the rear of the property in the 1860s for the Pingrees, the third family to occupy the house.
But the house has a dark side too. Leading Salem merchant Joseph White, a later owner of the house, was murdered in his bed chamber by the Crowninshield brothers over his inheritance. In this real “trial of the century,” attorney and congressman Daniel Webster was brought in to prosecute. Webster’s summation of the murder is widely agreed to have been the inspiration of Edgar Allan Poe’s The Tell-Tale Heart.
Photo by Bob Packert/PEM.
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